Photo courtesy of Birmingham, Ala. Public Library Archives.
1113 Edgewood Lake History
Edgewood Lake covered 117.4 acres along what is now Lakeshore Drive. The intersection of Broadway and what would become Green Springs Highway as well as portions of the old Columbiana Road can be seen in this photo of the lake looking down from Shades Mountain across Shades Valley. Red Mountain is in the background. At the lake's shore the new road to Columbiana intersects North Lakeshore Drive and turns west to cross the lake's dam.
Vulcan Park & Museum has planned a walking tour of Edgewood for Saturday, May 2 from 9:30 a.m.-noon.
John Morse and Pam King will lead the tour, with guest commentary by Jane Reed Ross and Sheryl Spradling Summe.
The community of Edgewood began in 1909, as a 1700-acre residential community located between Rosedale Park and Oak Grove. Developers connected Edgewood to Birmingham by an electric streetcar line running over Red Mountain into South Highland. Edgewood Lake became popular as a recreational attraction with Birmingham residents, enticing many to relocate in the new community. Churches, including Edgewood Presbyterian, Dawson Memorial and Trinity Methodist, emerged as the community grew, as did a small commercial district that remains a popular gathering place.
The tour will cover Dawson, Trinity, commercial district (including Edgewood Creamery, Saw’s BBQ, Appleseed Workshop’s design for Edgewood Creamery), and several historically informed renovations along Manhattan and Central Avenue.
The tour costs $10 for Vulcan members or $12 for nonmembers.
To register, visit http://www.eventbrite.com/e/2015-spring-walking-tour-series-tickets-15898628225.
